Burlap and Wool: Pillows for Fall

Everyone is in love with burlap these days! 

Including me!

I wanted to use it for some fall accessories, like table runners and pillows, but I also wanted to do something a little different. So I found some pretty wool fabric, as well as ribbon, piping and dropcloth, to add to the burlap, creating a layered effect.

A wool background with dropcloth and orange piping

By using a bright color like orange, it makes everything pop!

Burlap with dropcloth and, again, orange piping

Burlap, wool, dropcloth and more orange piping. 

Wool with ribbon and a button; grey floral, wool, dropcloth and orange trim

Wool, dropcloth, orange piping

Wool and old, mismatched buttons

Use a black marker to write some Thanksgiving phrases; 

make them personal for you and your family.

Seasonal Decorating: Moving on to the Dining Room

This year I am using a lot of burlap, linen and wool. I like the combination.

For the dining table, I layered a burlap runner with linen ruffles and a cream linen table runner on top.

Then I began to play with different pumpkins, gourds and squash.

 A garland with acorns, fall leaves and pheasant feathers weaves in and around the squashes.

 I added my tall, pear candlesticks that I got on a trip to Gettysburg.

I also added some little elements like a church birdhouse 

and small white rooster doorstop.

In the center I started with a white, square cake stand, added a wreath of dried fall leaves and a  pumpkin-spice candle. I am thinking about replacing this with a pumpkin filled with mums.

On the Welsh dresser in the background, I changed the candles and added squash and gourds to a white bowl, plus some faux pears and acorns. I may add a banner.

On the shelf above stand 2 small pewter Pilgrims and seeds from Plymouth Plantation.

I still have some more areas to decorate, entry and small tables.
Autumn is definitely  my favorite season.http://livingacottagelife.blogspot.com/2012/10/decorating-is-in-details-fall-mantle.html

Seasonal Decorating is in the Details: A Fall Mantle

The first day of fall came and went with temperatures in the 90's, even creeping up to 100. Needless to say, I had no inclination to start my fall decorating. But with the first of October, it is finally starting to feel like cooler weather is on the way, so I went for a hunt for my fall decor.

I say hunt because that is exactly what I had to do. Some family members moved over the summer and stored some of their things in my shed. I had the foresight to move the Christmas things to the front, but I thought the fall boxes were in the garage. I was wrong.

I am still missing a box, but I gave up and decided to use what I found, plus what I had from my garden.

First, the mantle:

My print from Plymouth, Massachusetts always takes center stage, 

especially in the fall.

The missing box has sprays of leaves and fall flowers, so I gathered what I had that would be the right color for my cream pitcher. Behind it is a birdhouse with apples on it. In front is a garland with pheasant feathers.

In the middle is a beautiful orange and bluish-green pumpkin on a small cake stand.

On the left is a red clock and rustic pitcher; you can see a bit of a birdhouse gourd on the far right. The garland of fall leaves and acorns tie it all together.

A new banner says "thankful"

Tomorrow, the dining room.

Seasonal Decorating: Table Runners for Fall

The first day of fall is a good time to change out all the summer details and make room for fall. Around these parts, however, it is still just a little too hot for me to be putting out things like wool fabric and quilts.

But fall is almost here and I am so ready!  The temperature has finally dipped below 90 and the mornings are actually quite cool, so I'm going for it!

Table runners are really easy to make. Here are some ideas for fall:

wool with a linen ruffle and brown floral ribbon

burlap with grey floral ruffle and pumpkin piping

burlap with linen ruffle, black and white polka dot ribbon and pumpkin piping

wool with linen ruffle and blue and brown fleur de lis ribbon

Start by measuring the length of your table. If you want the runner to overhang, add 10-12 inches.

For example, my table is 72" long, so I cut my fabric 84". That makes a 6" overhang on each side.

 The width can be anywhere between 12" and 18". Hem the runner on both long sides.

For the ruffles, decide how long you want it to be and cut the width twice as long as the runner's width. Hem the ruffle on 3 sides; on the 4th side, using the longest stitch on your sewing machine, 

 sew a straight line across, leaving long strands of thread on each side and don't backstitch. Then start to pull one thread on each side, a little at a time, until the ruffle is the same width as the runner.

Stitch the ruffle to the runner, right sides together.

To add decorative ribbon, just stitch it over the top, remembering to turn under the ends.

 If you want piping, you have to think ahead and place it between the ruffle and runner when you stitch them together.